Umidie
04-03-2000, 07:37 AM
Uzbek-British trade council head upbeat on cooperation prospects
Great Britain is a major trade and economic partner of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Business circles in the two
countries are showing great interest in further developing mutually advantageous cooperation.
The Uzbek-British Trade and Industry Council (UBTIC), which was founded in 1999, plays an important role in
coordinating bilateral cooperation. First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Hamidov
and a prominent representative of British business circles, Hartley Booth, are co-chairmen of the council.
Hartley Booth has a doctorate in international law from Cambridge University. He has held senior posts in the
British government. In October 1999 he was appointed co-chairman of the UBTIC by the British government.
This March Hartley Booth was in Uzbekistan on a working visit. On his return to London, in an interview with a
Jahon news agency correspondent, Booth described his visit to Uzbekistan as exceptionally useful and fruitful.
"I was able to see for myself the development of the economy and business opportunities in your country, to
acquaint myself with the work of Uzbek-British joint ventures and to hold meetings with leading ministers and
members of the Uzbek government. We have a number of examples of British companies successfully operating in
Uzbekistan. They include BAT, Oxus Mining and others. Oxus Mining, which is named after the famous river Oxus
(Amudarya), plans to float its shares on the London Stock Exchange in the next two months. For the first time a
British-Uzbek joint venture will be represented on a western stock exchange.
Speaking about the prospects for developing British-Uzbek trade and economic cooperation, the interviewee said
that there were great opportunities in that field. "Uzbekistan has something to offer British and international
markets," Booth said.
"Apart from the traditional kinds of exports, food industry and agricultural products, ceramics and textiles may also
enjoy success. During my visit in Uzbekistan I also mentioned the international trade exhibition of applied arts
which will be held in London next spring," says Mr. Booth.
Great Britain is a major trade and economic partner of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Business circles in the two
countries are showing great interest in further developing mutually advantageous cooperation.
The Uzbek-British Trade and Industry Council (UBTIC), which was founded in 1999, plays an important role in
coordinating bilateral cooperation. First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Hamidov
and a prominent representative of British business circles, Hartley Booth, are co-chairmen of the council.
Hartley Booth has a doctorate in international law from Cambridge University. He has held senior posts in the
British government. In October 1999 he was appointed co-chairman of the UBTIC by the British government.
This March Hartley Booth was in Uzbekistan on a working visit. On his return to London, in an interview with a
Jahon news agency correspondent, Booth described his visit to Uzbekistan as exceptionally useful and fruitful.
"I was able to see for myself the development of the economy and business opportunities in your country, to
acquaint myself with the work of Uzbek-British joint ventures and to hold meetings with leading ministers and
members of the Uzbek government. We have a number of examples of British companies successfully operating in
Uzbekistan. They include BAT, Oxus Mining and others. Oxus Mining, which is named after the famous river Oxus
(Amudarya), plans to float its shares on the London Stock Exchange in the next two months. For the first time a
British-Uzbek joint venture will be represented on a western stock exchange.
Speaking about the prospects for developing British-Uzbek trade and economic cooperation, the interviewee said
that there were great opportunities in that field. "Uzbekistan has something to offer British and international
markets," Booth said.
"Apart from the traditional kinds of exports, food industry and agricultural products, ceramics and textiles may also
enjoy success. During my visit in Uzbekistan I also mentioned the international trade exhibition of applied arts
which will be held in London next spring," says Mr. Booth.